What scopes should I consider

Swedish chef · Guest

Hi,

I am looking for a scope that I plan to use for looking at stars, natureviewing, bird watching (occas) and probably photography.

Price is of course a factor, I would pay up to around $400 but a bit more could be considered if that would take me a good step up in quality.

I will probably carry the scope sometimes but performance and price is more important.

I want an angled scope and I wear glasses.

From my limited knowledge, I have understood that around 80mm objective could make sense for my needs? Question

Can you give me one or a few proposals to help me limit my considerations? Question

Thanks in advance!!

Peter

Can you give me a few proposals

Swedish Chef · Guest

Forgot to mention that the scope should be used by myself and my daughter (under supervision).

Furthermore, it is a great plus if the scope is waterproof.

/Peter

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5207

Hi

Always choose your instrument based on your primary application. If you are mostly going to be viewing by day, a spotting scope makes the most sense and any spotting scope can do some astronomy.

The good news is that there are a couple of good choices in this price range. I like the angled Alpen 788 and the Vortex Skyline Both are fully waterproof and as good a scope as you will get for the price.
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Swedish Chef · Guest

Hi,

Thanks for your prompt answer.

Would you say I am right considering an 80mm objective for the purposes that I have described?

If I went for a 60mm scope, would I for the same price get that much better optics that it would compensate the less light? (please note that astronomy is one of my prioritised areas of use.

What would be the next step up and next step down in terms of price and quality?

Thanks again for taking your time!

Peter

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5207

Hi

All esle being equal, an 80mm scope will offer more image brightness and resolution, but all else is seldom equal in a spotting scope. Optical quality is equally important as objective size and price is always a good indicator of optical quality in a spotting scope.

Typical spotting scopes are limited for astronomy due to 1) theri lower magnification and 2) their mounts. If astronomy is your major use, choose a telescope that can also doubel for some day use, but telescopes are not very fieldworthy. A good choice for a dual use telescope is a refracor on an alt-az mount, such as the Celetron Nexstar 102 SLT.

One compromise is a spotting scope that can use standard telescope eyepieces, such as the excellent Celestron Refractor 80ED. It will solve the magnification issue, but not the mount issue. Photo tripods used with spotting scopesa are good up to about 100-120x, but are not suitable for higher magnifications.
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Swedish Chef · Guest

Thanks.

The astronomy is on a basic level ("father and kids doing stuff together") so I think a spotting scope would work fine? I would in any case like to be able to use the equipment for other purposes as well.

Reading through all your good advises, I get the impression that going up one level would be to e.g. Bushnell Elite ED. Going down one level on the other hand would be to the Eagle Optics Raven?

Is this right? In that case I should consider:
Alpen 788
Vortex Skyline
Eagle Optics Raven
Bushnell Elite ED

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 5207

Hi

Yes, those are always good options, up and down.

Keep in mind, though, that the very things most begiiners want to see in astronomy, namely the planets, are not good targets for spotting scopes. Not enough magnification. If you want to see Saturn, for instance, in a size large enough to be impressive, you will need more magnification than a spotting scope. 40x or so will till show the rings, but image size will not be impressive. On the other hand, spotting scopes will do a nice job on brigher star clusters and nebulae and will still give good views of the moon.
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Swedish Chef · Guest

Hi (again)!

Of the scopes listed above, on which can I mount a digital camera?

Peter